USA-CA #470

It's been along time coming USA-CA QRP, in fact over 20 years. I really had no intention of ever working all counties especially QRP. Having just purchased my first QRP rig a Ten-Tec Argonaut 509 I wanted to try and work all 50 states. While tuning the 20 meter band I ran across a net that sounded like some sought of contest. Having a little contest experience the activity caught my attention and I had found a great spot to pick up those hard to work states. After working W.A.S. in a matter of days I was left to find another challenge and that's when I got hooked on County Hunting. Certainly I had no idea how hooked I would become or how long this challenge would take to conquer. I met so many wonderful people its hard for me not to stop by 14.336/14.056.5 and pass some time while in the shack. I worked the counties any way I could get them, SSB, CW, operating the State QSO parties, and even operated QRP several times from my motorcycle. In the beginning it was easy to work new counties each day filling log page after log page. While getting close to the end a major effort was put forth searching QRZ and HamCall to find someone in a new one. I had a great response from my emails asking for schedules, everyone was very helpful. Many thanks to everyone that made it all possible!!!

First Contact - N9DEH LaGrange, IN on 8/4/1982 Last Contact - N4QVM Davie, NC on 3/11/2003
  1. WD7N ex-WB0GRN - mobile to mobile (first person to complete USA-CA all QRP.)
  2. WA4PGM - mixed band/mode
  3. WD3P - all CW
  4. K5AAR - all CW

See WD3P's web site for more information about QRP county hunting.

Trip Photos - a collection from various trips.

Counties ran:
  • AZ - 3
  • CA - 21
  • CO - 12
  • DE - 3 (all)
  • FL - 13
  • GA - 16
  • IA - 11
  • IL - 25
  • IN - 17
  • KS - 17
  • KY - 44
  • MD - 21 (all)
  • MO - 30
  • NE - 15
  • NC - 65
  • NV - 11
  • OH - 7
  • PA - 6
  • SC - 15
  • TN - 11
  • TX - 9
  • UT - 12
  • VA - 95 (all)
  • WV - 33
  • WY - 5
  • TOTALS = 517
 Highlights:
  • 88 Last Counties
  • 6 Last Counties for WBOW
    • K5CKQ - Giles, VA
    • KK4VN - Dinwiddie, VA
    • W7GQK - Persons, NC
    • WD4OIN - Mathews, VA
    • NS4C - Lunenburg, VA
    • N4XML - Brunswick, VA
  • 1st Place Portable CWCH Contest 1982,83,84
  • Portable CWCH Contest Record (category retired)
  • Worked all States running counties from my motorcycle. QRP!
  • Countless friends over the years!